READERS’ OPINIONS - Same-sex marriage debate will not go quietly

I am absolutely outraged at the “legislative” body of this commonwealth.

170,000 citizens sign a petition to put the gay marriage question to a vote “by the people” and are thwarted by 151 legislators who don’t believe in the constitution of this state.

How dare they do such a thing.

I hope the group that started the first petition starts another one which I would be the first to sign. People in this state and in the country as a whole had better start taking action against this sort of thing, or one day we’ll wake up and find that “we the people” have no say in this government and that special interest groups run everything any way they choose.

Before you know it people will be marrying their pets and perverts will molest children with impunity.

Gerard Bogus, Rockland

To all the South Shore legislators who voted no to placing a gay marriage ban on the 2008 ballot, especially state Sen. Morrissey, Rep. Nyman and Rep. Canavan – thank you, thank you for giving recognition and dignity to all the lesbian and gay couples in Massachusetts. They and their families are very grateful.

Unfortunately, there will always be prejudice based on personal beliefs, misunderstanding and religion. But this vote was not about ideology; it was about individuals and families relying on their elected officials to protect them. Thank you for listening to their stories and hearing their cries. Thank you for understanding that loving families come in all shapes, sizes and colors.

Being gay is not a choice, but to pass judgment and discriminate is.

I am very proud of you and the choice you made.

Ruth Bastien, Duxbury

It's apparent to me now that our politicians no longer represent the people.

Politicians voted for themselves, not on behalf of the good people who voted them in.

I guess the people can no longer be trusted.

David Lewis, Scituate

This letter is directed to the legislators and senators (you know who you are) who lacked the testicular fortitude to vote for the Constitutional Convention on the marriage amendment.

One wonders how many pieces of silver the governor promised those people who chose not to represent their constituents.

The fight is not over.

Jean B. Healey, Braintree

While I celebrate the gay-marriage equality victory that came from Beacon Hill recently, I cannot help but feel offended and embarrassed by the votes of Reps. Bruce J. Ayers and A. Stephen Tobin, who voted against equality. When given a second chance and the opportunity to protect the rights of their constituency, they continued to let their bigotry decide their vote. And, more importantly, in the process, they disgraced their districts and the people of Quincy.

So now they will go down in history as two of the men who tried, unsuccessfully, to stop social progress and limit the rights of minority citizens. They will join the ranks of the infamous; their company includes political characters like Jesse Helms, who leveraged racism for political gain, and Emily Bissell, who felt women should not be allowed to vote.

Congratulations to you both. You’ve solidified your obsolescence. I look forward to supporting your opponents in the next campaign.

John Porcaro, East Bridgewater

Any voters in the state of Massachusetts who vote to reelect any of these politicians in the Legislature who voted against the constitutional right of the voters to vote on the gay marriage amendment should seek psychiatric therapy rapidly.

Democrats back in the 2000 presidential election got deranged over the Florida votes screaming that every voter should vote and every vote should count. They did the same thing during the 2004 presidential election in Ohio about counting all the votes.

Over 3,500 of our bravest have lost their lives so that 11 million Iraqis could vote for their own constitution. Now a very vocal minority in the state of Massachusetts forced a bunch of spineless politicians to deny 11 million Massachusetts citizens their constitutional right to vote on this gay marriage boondoggle. God bless America.